# So why does no one recognise Somililand ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120 "2007-02-06T20:02:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/1 "2007-02-06T20:02:01Z")
So [Somaliland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somaliland) has been independent from Somalia in all but name for 16 years. Unlike Somilia it is stable and has a functioning government. Why is it not recognized by the international comunity. Its not like Somilia is a superpower no-one wants to get in the bad-books of. And you’d think given its strategic location in the war on terror we would want to incourgage a stable pro-western ally. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/2 "2007-02-06T22:22:06Z")
In general, governments are picky when it comes to recognizing newly established states, partially because they do not want to create precedents for secessionist movements elsewhere. This even extends to the so-called “failed states,” such as Somalia. The current practice is to regard Somalia as a nation which continues to exist as an entity under international law; it is simply temporarily (well, for quite a while now, but still not definitely) unable to act because there is no stable and effective government controlling the country. Even is the situation in Somaliland is better because there is effective government there, this does not mean Somaliland is a state on its own independent of Somalia. Somaliland’s territory is still considered as part of Somalia, even though Somalia is currently unable to act. Usually, things like this are coordinated at the international level - governments do not wish to jump ahead recognizing newly established countries without asking their allies first. Germany experienced the consternation this could create when it recognized Slovenia and, subsequently, other formerly Yugoslav republics without consulting with the other European countries. If there is no political advantage to be harvested, I don’t think any statesman would bother to step forward in such a matter. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/3 "2007-02-06T22:34:45Z")
Because who can take a country that has “-land” at the end of its name seriously? What’s next, Iraqiland? Israeliland? Come on folks, let Disney do their thing. Just because it worked for them, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/4 "2007-02-06T22:42:02Z")
England? Scotland? Ireland? Iceland? Finland? Not taken seriously? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/5 "2007-02-06T22:43:46Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Because who can take a country that has “-land” at the end of its name seriously? [/QUOTE] England, Ireland, N. Ireland, Scotland Ok you can probably get away making fun of Ireland, N. Ireland & Scotland, but England has nukes. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/6 "2007-02-06T22:45:30Z")
What was that sound I just heard? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/7 "2007-02-06T22:46:01Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] England? Scotland? Ireland? Iceland? Finland? Not taken seriously? [/QUOTE] Yeah, but those don’t count since an “Eng” by itself doesn’t really signify anything. Although come to think of it, “Iceland” _is_ a pretty corny name. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/8 "2007-02-06T22:47:17Z")
And Greenland, Switzerland, Swaziland, New Zealand, Poland, and Thailand. Not to mention all those “-stan” countries, which means “land of.” ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/9 "2007-02-06T22:54:26Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] And Greenland, Switzerland, Swaziland, New Zealand, Poland, and Thailand. Not to mention all those “-stan” countries, which means “land of.” [/QUOTE] You know, you make a good point **friedo**. We really could stand to be a little more creative when it comes to naming our countries. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/10 "2007-02-06T23:13:37Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] What was that sound I just heard? [/QUOTE] Whooshland? ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/11 "2007-02-06T23:22:07Z")
[QUOTE=Jayrot] Whooshland? [/QUOTE] No one recognizes it , as it has recently seceded from the Republic of Whooshia. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/12 "2007-02-06T23:37:04Z")
I’ve just spent a good part of the morning reading this: [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040204/halltext/40204h03.htm](http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040204/halltext/40204h03.htm). It’s a “debate” about the subject that took place in the UK House of Commons in early 2004. I was hoping that, being a debate and all, we’d hear some opposing points of view, but it ended up turning into some kind of hippie lovefest, what with all the Members from opposing parties wholeheartedly agreeing that Somaliland needs recognition. Still, it’s a fascinating read. I reckon these quotes are quite telling: > [@Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby) (Con)](#): > > …we were told that the Ethiopian Government said that they would be the second Government to recognise Somaliland as soon as soon as someone else did[.] > [@John Barrett (Edinburgh](#): > > Problems may arise from recognition of Somaliland, such as the UK being accused of reverting to colonial days, and the hope must be that an African nation leads the way so that others might follow. It’s quite possibly the same case for other nations, too. Everyone’s happy to recognise Somaliland, but nobody wants to be accused of trying to split Somalia up. Right at the end we have this conclusion (bolding mine): > [@The Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn)](#): > > I understand entirely why hon. Members have so forcefully raised the question of recognition for Somaliland, because it is a subject about which the people of that country feel extremely strongly. We encourage Somaliland’s progress towards democracy, and we should do all we can to reinforce their efforts. As Members have kindly indicated, this is not directly a matter for me. **But we should be careful about doing anything that undermined the prospects for success in those talks and the reconciliation elsewhere in Somalia.** I advance the argument for the simple reason that the people of the rest of Somalia deserve the same right to be able to live in stability and security. **We also have to acknowledge that the question of recognition is the subject of some controversy, not least among neighbouring African countries.** Having said that, it is my view that the issue of recognition—a point raised by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West—should not get in the way of development and assistance. Unfortunately for Somaliland, this debate happened shortly after the Transitional Federal Government formed. The world had (and still has) high hopes for the TFG, and didn’t want to do anything that might impede its progress. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/13 "2007-02-07T15:40:23Z")
Nobody recognises Somaliland, because it combs its hair back & wears glasses, like Clark Kent. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/14 "2007-02-07T17:07:13Z")
The difference between Somaliland and the myriads of other self-proclaimed countries is that Somaliland really has a functioning administration. It issues bank notes, polices its cities, maintains infrastructure and does, domestically, everything other countries do too. One more thing to **Rigamarole** : Somaliland did not invent this name. Several European powers used to have dependencies in that region named French, British, and Italian Somaliland before the formation of Somalia. So it seems Somalia is the invented goof name. Edit: Miscoding ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/15 "2007-02-07T18:34:55Z")
Does it have a flag? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/16 "2007-02-07T22:41:35Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Nobody recognises Somaliland, because it combs its hair back & wears glasses, like Clark Kent. [/QUOTE] Dammit, this was my _one_ reason for opening this thread! ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/17 "2007-02-07T22:49:52Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Yeah, but those don’t count since an “Eng” by itself doesn’t really signify anything. [/QUOTE] Doesn’t it? (Posted from East Anglia, if that’s a hint 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/18 "2007-02-07T22:49:56Z")
[QUOTE=Maus Magill] Does it have a flag? [/QUOTE] [Flag of Somaliland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Somaliland). ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-does-no-one-recognise-somililand/391120/19 "2007-02-07T22:56:43Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] [Flag of Somaliland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Somaliland). [/QUOTE] [Eddie Izzard](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEx5G-GOS1k)